Trailer for boats and the like



Sept. 16, 1952 o. cANTRl-:LL

TRAILER FOR BOATS AND THE LIKE Filed June l, 1948 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 16, 1952 i i Um'rlzo STATES PArENfl-ijorrlce Orel Lee Cantrell, Topeka, Kans. A

` Application June 1, 1948, Serial No. 30,470 4 j 2 claims. (c1. 28o-.44)

This invention relates to mobile structures in the form of a trailer and particularly of the kind having a load-supportingv frame mounted on wheel and axle assemblies and shiftable with respect to such assemblies toward and away from the surface of the ground or other supporting means for the trailerV itself.y

It is well known by sportsman and others. generally that transportation of boats and the like vto and from a body of water is a diflicult task.

Oftentimes, small boatsV are carried on top of an .automobile and many different types of trailers have vbeen provided for carrying such boats.

The lifting of the boat in and out of the water,

positioning the same upon such trailers or upon the top of the automobile is a difficult task and,

therefore, it is the most important object of this invention to provide a trailer rendering this operation simple and easy.

.Another object of this invention is to provide a trailer for boats and the like having a pair of spaced-apart opposedwheel and axle assemblies, the assemblies each being provided with an elongated arm secured directly thereto, swingable to and from a position rendering a load-supporting frame carried by the arms shiftable vertically to and from a position substantially level with the ground.

Y Another important object of this invention is to provide a trailer having means for attachment to an automobile or other 'motivating means and having a load-supporting frame disposed between a pair of wheel and axle assemblies and pivotally mounted to a pair of arms swingably secured to the axles of the assemblies, whereby, upon swinging movement of the arms, the frame is moved as a unit toward and from a position adjacent and above the axis of rotation of the wheels.

'l Other objects of this invention include the way in which the aforesaid swingable arms are provided in part with springs to cushion the load; the manner in which one end of the arms is pivotally connected to the frame, whereas, the opposite ends thereof are joined by extensible means to the frame; the way in which cables,

vpulleys and a winch are provided for swinging Vthe arms to and from a position permitting lowering of the frame for receiving the boat or the like and the manner in which the frame itself Vis provided with portions that are shiftable to and from a position substantially conformable to a portion of the lowermost edge of the boat itself.

l y Many additional objects pertaining to details of construction will be made clear or become apparent as the following specification progresses,

. 2 z z. reference being had to the accompanying vdrawing, wherein: l

Fig. l is a top plan view of a trailer for boats and the like madein accordance with the'present invention. s l@ Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional. view, .taken on line II-II of Fig. 1, showing lthe parts of the trailer in two of its possible positions.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged cross sectional view taken on line III-' III of. Fig. .1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary. cross sectionalv view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 5 is anenlarged fragmentary. cross sectional view taken on line V-V .of Fg.,1; and

Fig. 6v is a cross sectional View taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of Ythe arrows.. y

In the drawing, a frame broadly designated by the numeral I0 includes a pair of elongated preferably tubular. members l 2 and I 4 .that converge as one end thereof is approached, said one end of the members I2 and l4 being joined together in any suitable manner (not. shown) i.

Frame I0, also has a pair o f; spaced tubular cross-arms I6 and .I8 vunderlying the members I2 and I4 and suitably joined thereto by welding or by bolts 20, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. As clearly indicated in Fig. 1, the ends of .these crossarms I6 and I8 extend outwardly beyond the two beams YI2 and I4 `and are ofsubstantially the same length.

The entire frame I0 is disposed between a pair of wheel and axle assemblies 22 and 24 respectively. These assemblies 22 and 24 are each.pro vided with a stub axle (not shown). of conventional character, said axles each having secured thereto an elongated member broadly designated by the numeral 26. These-two members 26 are of identical character and, therefore, only one will be described.

A rod 28 forms a part of the members 26 and extends rearwardly from the respective stub axle of assembly 22 or 24, as the case may be, and is substantially perpendicularto the longitudinal axes of crossarms IE and I8. Members-2.6, also, include an elliptical spring structure 3U that extends forwardly from the respective stub axle as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. 7 I

This spring structure 30 is of the usual type, constituting a number of flat, superimposed plates disposed in stepped fashion and the innermost proximal ends of 'thestructure 30 androd 28 are joined together and directly to the respective stub axle. It is contemplated that rod 28 be welded directly to the innermost end of the stub axle and have a substantially L-shaped 3 bracket 32 secured upon its innermost end and overlapping a portion of the uppermost face thereof.

A U-shaped clamp 34 joins the spring member 30 to this bracket 32, whereas, a second U-shaped clamp 36 connects the rod 28 directly to the member 30. A plate 38 overlying the spring member 30 receives the free ends of the two U-shaped coupling devices 34 and 36.

It is thus seen, as illustrated in Fig. 2; that the bracket 32 serves in joining the spring member 30 to the rod 28 at an angle thereto. In other words, member 30 and the rod 28 extend upwardly in opposite directions vfrom the vaxis of rotation of the wheel assemblies 22 or 24.

As shown in Fig. 5, a tubular bear-ing 40 is telescoped on the outermost free ends respectively of the member I8. The outermost free end of the rod 28 is welded as at 42 directly to this sleeve-like bearing 40. The outermost free -end of the -spring member `30 is provided vwith a deptnding U-shaped shackle 44 pivotally .mounted to the respective springmember 30 and .provided with an opening 46 at the bight thereof.

The cross member I6 has a tubularbearing 48 telescoped therein and extending beyond .the proximal Aends of member I8,.said tube 48 being secured directly tothe cross member I6 as by welding .50.

An arcuate pipe 52 kextends into the tube 4.8 and isfre'ely rotatable therein. Thispipe .52 has an out-turned ange L54 we1ded-thereon as at '56 and normally ybearing against the outermost free endiof thetube 48.

A cable-58 hasthe ends thereof passing through ;V

lthe moanings '4'6 of each of the shackles `44, said ends being secured within the shackles 44 by means .pf a clamp 80. From the Yclamps 58, this cablepasses downwardly through openings 46, is :threaded through .thepipe 52 and then passes .inwardly-toward the .center of cross member I6.

This cross `member I6 .is provided with a slot at the forward edge thereof for receiving a pair .'ofrspaced-apari; plates 62 and 84, having disposed :therebetween la .pair .of spaced pul1eys166. The 'two ends .of 'the cable .58 pass overthese pulleys :66 and thence forwardly from the cross memrber "|6.

Ailoop 68 is .formed in one end yof a second .cable I for threadablyfreceiving the bight of the cable 58. Cable 'I0 exttnds .forwardly from the .cable 58 v4andis Awound about 'ithe drum of 4a1winch'l2 that issecured directly to the mem- -bers I2 and I4 of Vframe I0. This winch 'I2 is located adjacentthe connected ends of-members AI2rand I4 and isprovided'with a-manually ma- 1nipulablecrank'74 in the usual manner. A lock- .ing'means 116 of conventionalcharacter releassably'holds-the drum of winch 72 against rotation.

A pair of T-shaped arms iS-overlie the mem-v bers 26. 'Thesearms I8 'are joinedvdirectly to 'the sleeve-likebearing4`0by-having-one leg 80 thereof resting upon such sleeve 40 and ljour- 'nalled for free rotation with-respect tothe sleeve 40 vby means of a pair of spaced bearings 82 and, *84 secured directly-tobearing 40.

"A wing nut o1" the vlike 90 `serves to releasably vthe `outermost -free 4 hold the hook member 88 in place, whereby the latter may be released from loop 86.

Supporting means is provided on the elongated members I2 and I4 of frame I 0, including the cross plate 92 connecting members I2 and I4 between the normally forward ends thereof and the cross member I6 and a pair of cross panels 94 and 96 adjacent the rearmost end of the frame I0. These cross members 94 and 96 are formed as .shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing and include a pair of plates 88 and |00 joined to the respective members I2 and I4 by means of bearings |02. Thus, each of the members 98 and |00 is free to rotate on the member I2 or I4, as the case may be.

The two sections 98 and |00 are joined together -by means of a plate |04 of resilient material. Plates |04 each have elongated, longitudinal slots |05 to slidably receive mounting bolts |01. A front end bumper |06 for the boat includes an upstanding bracket |08 and a plate ||.0 preferably gformed from resilient material 'holding .the Aboat or other load against the forward movement upon the frame |.f 0 and, also, `serves to protect the winch 'l2 against damage by the boat.

A conventional Icoupling means v|09 secured to the joined ends of themembers I2 and I4 serves to connect the trailer to a suitable hitch upon an automobile Aor the like. `An arcuate skid I.2

.secured to the members I2 and `I4 immediately ,as follows:

yFrame I0 is .normally in a substantially .hori- .zontal .position when the coupling |08 is connected tothe automobile hitch, all as shown-in full lines in Fig. 2 of 4the drawing. VWhen it is Vdesired to lower frame I0 to a -position adjacent the supporting surface lof assemblies 22 and'24,

permitting ro- As lthe end 88 of cable l"l0 moves rearwardly with respect yto the frame I0, the members 26 will -be free .to swing lto the positionshown by -doued lines in Fig. v2. The cable ,5s Amoves through the .member 6 and the .arcuate .pipe

-52ipermitting separation of such.pipe.52 and the shackle 44.

Thus, therossmember I6 together with the two curved rods v52 lthereof movefdownwardlyas ends of -the spring members 3 8 .and their shackles 44 swing upwardly, .as shown in Fig. 2.

`Because ofthe pivotal connection betweenthe .two `spaced-apart'rods 28 'and the cross -member I8, by virtue of the rotatable sleeve 40,.the cross member I8 and, also,.its.associated.partsmove downwardlyaszshown in Fig. 2. -It isIto be understood fthatthe operation is vpossible i whetherthe trailers vconnected tothe automobile cris Vdis-- aconnectedandlower to a position where the skid 2| f 2 .restsf upon the vground.

.This operation, of course,is possible only when the arms-18 are released from Athe cross member 'If'.i. This is accomplished .by disconnecting the ihooks =88 and -loops *86, permitting separationl of 'rmsz l18 and the cross.member.|6,.as shown-in When the :trailer is in V.the lraised, operative position, ltheload carried .thereby viscushioned vby v1rtue of Lthespringsn. and the arms18 serve as a safetyjfeature Vin the event .that .winch 12 should loosen or the cables 10 or 58 break during transportation of such load.

Since the trailer is designed particularly for use to carry a boat, the lowermost edge of such boat will rest directly upon the cross members 92, 94 and 96. inasmuch as the parts 98 and |00 of cross members 94 and 95 are swingably secured to the respective members l2 and I4, the

weight of the boat will cause such sections 98 and to swing downwardly because of spring |04, whereby these sections 98 and |00 conform to the contour of a portion of the boat. If necessary, the boat may be tied in any marmer to the frame I0, as by securement to the upstanding bumper 106.-

Through use of the trailer forming the subject matter of this invention, it is possible to disconnect the same from an automobile or the like and to move the entire trailer to the water edge or into the water itself, whereby the boat may be floated into position over the trailer after the frame l0 thereof has been lowered below the axis of rotation of assemblies 22 and 24.

After the boat has so been floated into place, the frame I0 together with the boat may be raised by manipulation of winch 12. n

While the trailer has been designed particularly for boats, it is manifest that the broad principles hereof might well be used for other trailers where heavy loads can be moved thereon much easier and simpler by lowering the loadsupporting frame of the trailer to the level of the ground.

Accordingly, it is desired to be limited by the spirit of this invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A trailer comprising a pair of groundengaging wheels, each provided with an axle; a leaf spring secured to each axle respectively and extending radially therefrom in one direction; a rod on each axle respectively and extending radially therefrom in the opposite direction; a

frame between the wheels, having a first cross arm pivotally secured to said rods and a second cross arm spaced from the first cross arm; a cable carried by the second cross arm and attached to said leaf sprin-gs; and means on the frame attached to said cable for holding the leaf springs against swinging movement away from the second cross arm.

2. A trailer comprising a pair of groundengaging wheels, each provided with an axle; a leaf spring secured to each axle respectively and extending radially therefrom in one direction; a rod on each axle respectively and extending radially therefrom in the opposite direction; a frame between the wheels, having a iirst cross arm pivotally secured to said rods and a second cross arm spaced from the first cross arm; a cable carried by the second cross arm and attached to said leaf springs; means on the frame attached to said cable for holding the leaf springs against swinging movement away from the second cross arm; and locking means including a member pivotally connected to one of said cross bars, and releasable means for connecting the member to the other of said cross bars.

OREL LEE CANTRELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,745,881 Wood Feb. 4, 1930 2,227,762 Ronning Jan. 7, 1941 2,442,071 Bunten May 25, 1948 2,453,388 Schramm Nov. 9, 1948 2,466,102 Heldenbrand Apr. 5, 1949 2,478,795 Whalen et al. Aug. 9, 1949 2,513,855 Fogwell July 4, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 766,917 France Apr. 23, 1934 

